CW3 Durant's Super6-4 over Moghadishu, Somalia on October 3rd, 1993. Photo courtesy of SOCOM. Operation Gothic Serpent was underway in Moghadishu, Somali...Delta, Rangers, PJs, SEAL TEAM 6, and Infantry battalions were all called on to take part in the mission to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid's key lieutenants. The mission was highlighted by the movie Blackhawk Down. Most of you probably know most of the details of the mission - that the valor of the men on the ground and in the air was incredible. It is estimated that between 700 to 3000 Somali fighters were killed. And twice that wounded. 84 Americans were wounded. 18 American Fighting Men died on that mission. Jonn Lilyea's friend MSG Tim Griz Martin was one of them and he has a tribute site up for him here. Chief Aaron Weaver survived Somali (as a Ranger) but lost his life in Iraq. We had a tribute to him here. And Chaplain (MAJ) Jeff Struecker (who is now retired) was a SSG on the ground in Somali. Here is our video interview with Chaplain Struecker at the Best Ranger Competition. He retired this year. This final scene of the movie, sums up Operation Gothic Serpent which the Somalis call "The Day of the Rangers": In Memoriam: 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta MSG Gary Gordan (awarded Medal of Honor) SFC Randy Shughart (awarded Medal of Honor) SSG Daniel Busch SFC Earl Fillmore SFC Matt Rierson* MSG Tim “Griz” Martin 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment CPL Jamie Smith SPC James Cavaco SGT Casey Joyce PFC Richard “Alphabet” Kowalewski SGT Dominick Pilla SGT Lorenzo Ruiz 160th SOAR (Nightstalkers) SSG William Cleveland SSG Thomas Field CW4 Raymond Frank CW3 Clifton “Elvis” Wolcott CW2 Donovan “Bull” Briley 2nd Battalion 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (rescue convoy) SGT Cornell Houston PFC James Martin
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Oct 03 2011, 03:36 AM
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